Cleantech Clusters

The Cleantech Clusters event series was launched earlier this year by Rushlight Events and Cleantech Investor. The first three events have each featured a venture capital investor on the panel - discussing topics relating to the emergence of cleantech clusters around the UK and centres of excellence in cleantech industry sub sectors.

The first event, sponsored by BDO, was held in London in February and focused on the theme of London's potential to become a cluster of technologies for the built environment - with a particular emphasis on the opportunities arising as a result of the 2012 Olympics. Speakers included Gia Kroeff of building contractors, Bovis Lendlease; Niall McNevin, from the Olympic Park Legacy Committee; David McMeekin, Chairman of Company Guides Venture Partners and manager of the London Technology Fund (LTF); and Ian Klesmer of the London Hydrogen Partnership. Read event review.

The second event was sponsored by Burges Salmon LLP and was held in Bristol. Focusing on the emergence of cleantech in the southwest, speakers included local representatives Alan Bailey (Chairman of Low Carbon South West); Denis Burn (Chair of the University of Bristol Council); Nick Sturge (Centre Director, SETSquared) and Philip Tellwright (Managing Director, SWAIN - the South West Angel and Investor Network) - who were joined by Mark Preston, a Principal of London based WHEB Partners. Read event review.

The third event took place in Aberdeen during All-Energy 2011 in May 2011 on the theme of investment in innovation in renewables. Panelists included Dr Douglas Rankin - Marks & Clerk LLP; Stuart Deed - Managing Director, The Launch-Point Limited; Professor C Paul Mitchell - University of Aberdeen, Institute of Energy Technologies; and Tony Lesowiec - Practice Leader, Pera Innovation Ltd.

Back in London in May, an event hosted by Norton Rose focused on hydrogen - and the emergence of clusters of excellence in hydrogen and fuel cells. Panelists included Dennis Hayter, VP Business Development at Intelligent Energy; Kerry-Ann Adamson, Research Director, Pike Research; Marcello Contestabile of Imperial College; and Daniel Carter of venture capital firm Conduit Ventures.

The next event takes place in Leeds on 14 June. Panelists will include: Dane Wilkins - Director, Renewable Energy Group, Ernst & Young; Neil Evans – Director of Environment & Neighbourhoods, Leeds City Council; Geraint Evans – Head of Biofuels and Bioenergy, NNFCC and Richard Greenfellow of Addleshaw Goddards, the hosts. More information & Registration.

Stockholm Cleantech Showcase

Cleantech Investor organised an event at the residence of the Swedish Ambassador in London in partnership with STING Capital of Stockholm last week, showcasing cleantech companies. The event was broadcast live and a video of the presentation of each of the companies is available online at www.cleantechinvestor.com/live

Profiles of the presenting companies, which are at various stages of maturity and all of which are currently fund raising, are available at the following links:

• Rehact -energy efficiency for buildings
• SEEC - energy storage using Optimised Borehole Thermal Energy technology
• myFC - high volume micro fuel cell technology for mobile devices
• Cortus - "green power" from biomass gasification for process and power industries
• Svenska Aerogel - Low cost aerogel solutions for applications ranging from insulation to cosmetics
• Tomologic - Remote web-based process to optimise sheet metal cutting processes - the 'cloud computing' of cleantech?

Bright start to 2011 for solar

Venture capital investment in solar got off to a strong start in 2011. In the solar thermal sector BrightSource Energy in the US and EnviroMission, an Australian company, both raised funding. In thin film, fund raisings by companies including SoloPower, Sulfurcell were reported. In the CSP space, deals so far this year have included GreenVolts and Sopogy. Amongst solar installers raising funds have bneen Solar Universe, Engensa and 1366. Read full feature (published in the February issue of Cleantech magazine) at: http://www.cleantechinvestor.com/portal/deal-tracker/9071-bright-start-to-2011-for-solar.html